St. Louis Zoo: seals probably died from stress

St. Louis Zoo: seals probably died from stress

July 21st, 2012 in News

ST. LOUIS (AP) - The St. Louis Zoo says three harbor seals that died in June while moving to the zoo from Canada likely died from stress caused by the trip.

Zoo officials say in a news release that multiple factors caused the deaths but the main problem was myopathy, or muscle disease, which can develop under stress. One seal survived the trip and has joined the zoo's seal display.

Eric Miller, the zoo's director of zoological operations, says investigators found no evidence of heat stress in the seals.

The seals came from Storybook Gardens, a theme park in London, Ontario.

Zoo officials also say there was an identity mix-up involving a dead seal and the survivor. Nunavut, who was listed among the dead in June, is alive. Nunavut's mother, Peanut, died.